Sir Keir Starmer has said “so now we get on with our work” as he chaired his first cabinet meeting following Labour’s landslide win that ended 14 years of Tory rule.
The prime minister said it was “absolutely fantastic” to welcome his top team to Downing Street, but warned there was a “huge amount” to do.
He had made few changes to the shadow frontbench line-up that existed before the election.
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Among those around the table i Number 10 was Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, and Deputy Prime Minister and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner.
Others attending were Health Secretary Wes Streeting, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, and Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Shabana Mahmood and Ed Miliband retained their respective justice and energy portfolios, while John Healey stayed with defence and Jonathan Reynolds at business.
However, Sir Keir picking experienced human rights lawyer Richard Hermer KC for attorney general rather than Emily Thornberry, who held the shadow role prior to the election.
He will become a peer to take up the top law officer job.
Sir Keir told his new cabinet: “Look colleagues, it is absolutely fantastic to welcome you to the cabinet, our first meeting.
“And it was the honour and privilege of my life to be invited by the King… to form a government and to form the Labour government of 2024.
“And now we hold our first cabinet meeting. So I welcome you to it.
“We have a huge amount of work to do, so now we get on with our work.”
His words were met with loud applause.
He was flanked at the cabinet table by Ms Rayner and Cabinet Secretary Simon Case.
Other ministerial appointments are expected be announced over the weekend.
High on the cabinet agenda will likely be the the six first steps set out in the Labour manifesto: delivering economic stability, cutting NHS waiting times, launching a new border security command, creating Great British Energy, cracking down on anti-social behaviour and recruiting 6,500 new teachers.
Read more:
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‘My government will serve you’
The new prime minister faces a series of challenges on taking office, including an NHS waiting list of 6.33 million patients, the small boats crisis in the Channel, an overstretched prison system, and sluggish economic growth.
Sir Keir will be on the international stage just days into his appointment, when he will travel to Washington DC for the NATO leaders’ summit. He will also host the European Political Community summit in the UK on 18 July.
UK election over 24 hours
In his first speech as prime minister on the steps of Downing Street, Sir Keir – who said he will not work past 6pm on Fridays to spend time with his family – promised his new government would “serve you” and that “politics can be a force for good”.
“Our country has voted decisively for change, for national renewal and a return of politics to public service,” he said.
“Our work is urgent, and we begin it today.”
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Source Agencies
